Database

How to set it up

Senior Member

joined:Apr 22, 2002
posts:2546
votes: 0

Hello WW. I want to learn how to set up a basic database for a site i'm working on. Would any of the many db experts just give me a quick rundown of the steps I'll need to take to set it up? I'll learn the coding, once I know which type I should use. I've already been trying for some time now. I know some hosts won't allow you to place your own scripts, so is there another way if you can't, besides paying them more $ to set up our db?

Preferred Member

joined:Sept 20, 2001
posts:478
votes: 0

Well, the first question is what flavor server you have, and what database do they use: Access on MS servers, or MySQL on MS, Unix or Linux are most common. How to connect to it is next question, with asp or others for Access, PHP, etc for MySQL.

And for simpler, (or in Brett's hands, more complicated) cases, a flat file and a cgi based solution is also an option.

I recently started on the PHP/MySQL learning curve, and got started by reading tutorials, buying a fat book, and installing PHP/MySQL on a linux/Apache machine at home for a testing server. Much better to make mistakes in a test environment than on somebody elses server that you share with other folks.

New User

joined:June 23, 2002
posts:26
votes: 0

The next thing to consider is creating your tables. Think objects and relationships. Each object and each relationship among objects should have its own table. That makes it easier to grow the database.

Senior Member

joined:Apr 22, 2002
posts:2546
votes: 0

Thanks, SmallTime, NineLives, and txbakers.

Congrats tx. Well deserved!

>>what flavor server you have

We're running on a windows 2000 server and these are among the listed services they told me I had available(after I had to threaten to switch hosts). Classic ASP XML and SSI MSAccess database MSSQL server perl/cgi

The xt thing to consider is creating your tables.

I think I can hack the code out once I get it up and running. I hope!

>>would start with Access, since you probably already have it installed on your machine.

Could you elaborate on that? Is that the same as MSAccess I have listed above?

Senior Member

joined:Aug 13, 2000
posts:4823
votes: 0

>Could you elaborate on that? Is that the same as MSAccess I have listed above?

Yes. And as you have access to MSSQL server you can upgrade to that once your traffic builds or migrate to mySQL as txbakers suggests. Although by the looks of the list you have provided mySQL may not be an option if your host does not support it.

New User

joined:July 15, 2002
posts:9
votes: 0

You could go all the and go for one of the big dbs. IBM has created a computer-based self-study course on DB2 Universal Database (DB2 UDB), which will give you a fairly good introduction to db2 in particular, but also to sql, stored procedures and so on. You can find it here [www-3.ibm.com]

Senior Member

If you are just using a basic database (no related tables) then there is no need to go over the top and run elaborate databases.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with flat file text databases.

Take a good look at your requirements - number of records, number of fields, rights for updating etc. and then decide which flavour to use.

I have a number of flat file databases with a quarter of a million records. I'm using Perl and clever method for indexing the database.

Record search is lightening fast. The databases are small and fit easily into the ram cache.

Ok, my databases are read only so editing or adding records would be slower. But I started off the same as you - looking for a database solution. Many advised MySQL etc. and lots of power hungry, steep learning curve stuff. In the end all I needed was a basic flat file text database of which you will find thousands of examples if you search for those words.